Academies could become ‘the norm’

Academies could become “the norm” in England’s education system,
Michael Gove has said.

The Education Secretary said he anticipated a high take-up of his offer to all schools to apply for academy status.

He also indicated that salaries for headteachers of these new academies should not be capped, saying that you “can’t put a price” on good leadership.

Mr Gove was revealing more details of his plans to grant state schools more independence. He has written to every primary, secondary and special school in the country inviting them to apply for academy status.

Those rated “outstanding” by Ofsted – around 600 secondaries and about 2,000 primaries – have been pre-approved, meaning those that apply now will be able to reopen as academies in September. These new academies will receive their funding directly and could be managed by outside companies.

The measures are contained in an Academies Bill being introduced in Parliament on Wednesday afternoon. At a press conference, Mr Gove said there had already been several expressions of interest.

Asked how widespread he thought take-up would be, Mr Gove said politicians had previously said they imagined the academies, particularly at secondary level, would become “the norm”.

“I anticipate that will be the case,” he said.

The Education Secretary was also asked if there should be a limit to the pay of headteachers at academies.

Mr Gove, who was holding a press conference with headteachers of outstanding schools who support the proposals, said: “To my mind, you can’t put a price on what (they) have done. Ultimately it is a matter for the governors, we would like to see more people like them in education.”